So, many of you may be new to the cigar and pipe game and might have heard about the "cigar boom" of the early 90's. Well, we are experiencing another boom today in the game, the difference is, today's cigar/pipe aficionado appears to be wiser and more educated. In the boom of the 90's, it was more about celebrities, athletes and Wall Street types, meaning all of a sudden it went from being just the fat cat boss chomping on a stogie (a negative image in America), fowl smelling cigars, "because you smoke cigars, you think you're better than me", to, its cool to smoke cigars, just holding one will make you cool etc.
What that phenomenon did was flood the market with a lot of inferior cigars, everybody had a company and a cigar, and subsequently, prices skyrocketed. For instance, my go to cigar in the late 80's was the Arturo Fuente 8-5-8, which cost about $3.00. Once the boom hit, that became a $8.00 cigar within a year because the demand became so high, and of course the American free enterprise system kicked in. Also, at the start of the boom, magazines like Cigar Aficionado debuted and with their celebrity laced covers, and everybody wanted to smoke cigars and be like Mike (yeah Jordan was a cover boy for CA). While those folks only wanted to be part of the trend, they were killing the game because of the demand on manufacturers. Inventories were short, less quality was put in blending and It was an amazing sight to see. It seemed like literally everyday, there was a new company debuting, with the "next big thing" in cigars, most were crap. Eventually, the fad died, the smoking Nazi's started campaigning for smoking bans, and the game got back to normal. Can you believe economic terms and philosophies like "vertical integration" was a part of the early 90's boom? Meaning, less creative freedom for the most part. Everybody, was mimicking everybody etc.
Today's boom has not only brought a more educated consumer, but a more educated manufacturer. Cigar manufacturers today, understand the market, they understand their consumers, they consider economic factors in pricing their products, they are better with advertising and have literally gone back to cigar roots. Yes, you still have a few opportunists, but with wiser consumers, they fall off quickly, especially if they have an inferior product. So this is the reason a blogs like this are important. Hopefully, there's enough knowledge and information being shared to make your smoking experience a more enjoyable one, and you pass on info to newbies so that this passion continues to be affordable and enjoyable. I hope this helps you understand just a little more about the "other" side of the game and the significance of enjoying cigars and not just smoking them. Long ashes. (_____G_________]]]]]]]~~~~ CLP (Clip, Light and Puff)
Discussions about the world of premium cigars, accessories, libations and everything cigars.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
"It Just Keeps Getting Better"!
What's up! Well, quite a few folks have asked why did I stop the blog, and the answer is, well there is no answer, so I'm back at it. As I pondered what to blog about, I looked at my vast collection of cigars, pipes and pipe tobacco and realized, "it just keeps getting better"! Many years ago (35 plus now), when I started enjoying the wonderful world of cigars and pipes, the scene was quite different than what it is now. What I mean is, yes, folks gathered at the local brick and mortar, purchased cigars and pipes and hung around, but the creativeness wasn't nowhere near what it is now in this game. Cuban cigars were the thing everybody wanted, every other word was "have you tried this Cuban", or "hey I have box of Cubans coming in from this guy I know", or "man, I can't wait until the embargo ends so I can stock up on Cubans", etc. But now, with places like Nicaragua, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and many others, Cuban are almost an afterthought. A lot of the "old heads" in the cigar game figured it out and started blended tobaccos from different countries, TOGETHER! Then, they called upon their children, to find out what the next generation was looking for, and how to get that product out to them, and even had the young guns take an active roll in running the family businesses.
We now have some cigars with as many as ten, count 'em, TEN different tobaccos in them, ie., the Alec Bradley Fine and Rare, for one. Complex blends, and very creative names and ways to market them. Facebook, Social Cigar, Cigar Dojo, the Montecristo Social Club and more. Online stores are in abundance, and although there are few brick and mortars, those still around have added big name lounges, Diamond Crown, Burn by Rocky Patel, Club Montecristo etc. There are Podcast, YouTube videos and countless magazines about the cigar and pipe lifestyles. And, brick and mortars have change the way they do business by adding fun things like, tastings, herfs, movie nights, one joint I used to frequent has "Man Cave Monday" where every Monday night its either movies, Monday Night Football, gamer tournaments and more. Then liquor companies and beer companies realized they could contribute. They started creating libations to enhance your smoking enjoyment, and they haven't stopped.
Unfortunately, one thing remains constant, the "pleasure police". Yeah, the folks who want to infringe on our enjoyment of 100% totally legal products. "You can't smoke in here", "no smoking in the park", "stay 100 feet from entrance ways", yada yada!. They try to tax the hell out of tobacco products in efforts to try to stop us, but we keep coming and growing by leaps and bounds, and "it keeps getting better"!. They keep using junk science about the perils of second hand smoke to try and stop us, they use kids in television adds and rhetoric to attempt to twist the public's views on smoking, and how bad it is. No one ever put a gun to my head and said "smoke or die", it was a choice I made when I was of legal age. In order to continue our passion we have herfs at each other's houses, our smoking dens at home are some of the most creative places I've ever seen, there are cigar RV's, cigar Safari's, cigar cruises and more.
With all of that being said, this hobby is still one of the most relaxing hobbies you'll ever find. I'm not saying its for everyone, nor am I recruiting anyone to start smoking cigars and pipes, but if you indulge or think you want to (it's a free country after all), now is the best time to be in the game. There is also a lot of education garnered in the game, because many of you had NO idea, where most of these cigar producing countries were, but now we read and talk to people from those places, we not only learn about the tobacco from those places, but we learn about the people, their cultures, their economies and some of us have even visited many of those countries. Much was learned from the "boom" of the nineties, many companies came and went, and others learned valuable lessons on how to make their products better (cigar leaf blended in pipe tobacco, say WHAT?). Something for all, from the extremely mild tobaccos, to the knock you on your ass tobaccos, if you want it, it's available.
So with al of that being said, grab a magazine, a libation and your choice of smoke and have at it. By the way, nothing against cigarette smokers, but when was the last time you were invited to a cigarette tasting at the 7-11?, I'm just saying. Stay tuned, I'll try to do a better job of writing, although it get tough with a cigar or pipe in one hand and a shot of 20 year old scotch in the other. Just remember, "it just keeps getting better"! Until next time, CLP (clip, light and puff).
Greg
We now have some cigars with as many as ten, count 'em, TEN different tobaccos in them, ie., the Alec Bradley Fine and Rare, for one. Complex blends, and very creative names and ways to market them. Facebook, Social Cigar, Cigar Dojo, the Montecristo Social Club and more. Online stores are in abundance, and although there are few brick and mortars, those still around have added big name lounges, Diamond Crown, Burn by Rocky Patel, Club Montecristo etc. There are Podcast, YouTube videos and countless magazines about the cigar and pipe lifestyles. And, brick and mortars have change the way they do business by adding fun things like, tastings, herfs, movie nights, one joint I used to frequent has "Man Cave Monday" where every Monday night its either movies, Monday Night Football, gamer tournaments and more. Then liquor companies and beer companies realized they could contribute. They started creating libations to enhance your smoking enjoyment, and they haven't stopped.
Unfortunately, one thing remains constant, the "pleasure police". Yeah, the folks who want to infringe on our enjoyment of 100% totally legal products. "You can't smoke in here", "no smoking in the park", "stay 100 feet from entrance ways", yada yada!. They try to tax the hell out of tobacco products in efforts to try to stop us, but we keep coming and growing by leaps and bounds, and "it keeps getting better"!. They keep using junk science about the perils of second hand smoke to try and stop us, they use kids in television adds and rhetoric to attempt to twist the public's views on smoking, and how bad it is. No one ever put a gun to my head and said "smoke or die", it was a choice I made when I was of legal age. In order to continue our passion we have herfs at each other's houses, our smoking dens at home are some of the most creative places I've ever seen, there are cigar RV's, cigar Safari's, cigar cruises and more.
With all of that being said, this hobby is still one of the most relaxing hobbies you'll ever find. I'm not saying its for everyone, nor am I recruiting anyone to start smoking cigars and pipes, but if you indulge or think you want to (it's a free country after all), now is the best time to be in the game. There is also a lot of education garnered in the game, because many of you had NO idea, where most of these cigar producing countries were, but now we read and talk to people from those places, we not only learn about the tobacco from those places, but we learn about the people, their cultures, their economies and some of us have even visited many of those countries. Much was learned from the "boom" of the nineties, many companies came and went, and others learned valuable lessons on how to make their products better (cigar leaf blended in pipe tobacco, say WHAT?). Something for all, from the extremely mild tobaccos, to the knock you on your ass tobaccos, if you want it, it's available.
So with al of that being said, grab a magazine, a libation and your choice of smoke and have at it. By the way, nothing against cigarette smokers, but when was the last time you were invited to a cigarette tasting at the 7-11?, I'm just saying. Stay tuned, I'll try to do a better job of writing, although it get tough with a cigar or pipe in one hand and a shot of 20 year old scotch in the other. Just remember, "it just keeps getting better"! Until next time, CLP (clip, light and puff).
Greg
"Cigarmanship"
Today I've decided to talk a little about "Cigarmanship", it's a term coined by a friend and I have a few points to talk about regarding Cigarmanship. This passion of enjoying premium cigars, is a great passion. Typically, when one enters the cigar game and has a want to learn about the game, its truly a journey that yields many great times. With that being said, I'm hoping this post will enlighten those new to the game and those that have been around, but never really had their "boots laced".
As you may have surmised, the enjoyment of cigars entails quite a few things, ie., selecting the right cigar for yourself, the cutting of the cigar, lighting the cigar, figuring out the characteristics of the cigar, the burn, and so on. Cigars are meant to be enjoyed, as well as the entire smoking experience. For me that means as few interruptions as possible, which brings me to the topic at hand, Cigarmanship. There are a few things you should not engage in when enjoying a cigar amongst fellow enthusiasts. The one I'm going to speak on today is "using others tools".
When I'm with others and we're enjoying the experience, there's nothing that can kill the mood and subsequently the smoking experience is when one asks to "borrow" my lighter or cutter. No, I'm not selfish, but I spend quite a bit of money on my passion and I primarily spend that money on my behalf, not yours. You should really refrain from asking to use people's tools. If you are really about getting into this game, invest in your own tools. Cutters can be purchased for as little as $1.00 and a decent box of matches can be procured for FREE! Those are the basic tools you need (as well as a cigar) to take part in this experience. It frustrates the hell out me when I'm sitting back, figuring out the complexity of my cigar, admiring the burn and smoke bellowing from my cigar when I hear the dreaded words "can I borrow.......".
Now I understand that there may be a time when you just literally forgot your tools (why, I don't know) but I understand, but when you ask and then the next person asks, now I feel like your damn Butler. Personally I keep a lighter (filled) and a cutter in my vehicles, so if should happen to leave the house without them, I have back up. I never know when I'm going to stop at a shop, a friends house (that gives you permission to smoke), etc., so typically I carry one of my traveldors with cigars loaded and my tools. That way, I'm sure I'll be ready to get in the "game". Would you sit on the bench in a football game with not equipment on waiting to get in the game? Absolutely not, so the same applies with cigars. I'm not here to support your pleasures, even if your a beautiful, long-legged woman. I have to pay for my butane to keep my source of "lightation" ready and if you continually are using it, all of a sudden its empty and my experience gets a bit more difficult to enjoy. And my cutter is precious to me, that's why I purchased it. Some like to lick their cigars before cutting, and I'm not in the mood to share your saliva, if I allow you to use my cutter.
So practice some Cigarmanship, and don't ASK! Get your own, it will make all involved that much happier and we can all enjoy our time with our favorite cigars, and I mean MY favorite cigars not one of mine that you asked for, but that's another blog for another time. Cigarmanship, is an act of respect and should be treated that way. Start practicing and you'll find that you might just be invited to a whole lot more cigar events, and gatherings. Until next time "CLP" (clip, light and puff)
Long ashes (___G___________]]]]]~~~
As you may have surmised, the enjoyment of cigars entails quite a few things, ie., selecting the right cigar for yourself, the cutting of the cigar, lighting the cigar, figuring out the characteristics of the cigar, the burn, and so on. Cigars are meant to be enjoyed, as well as the entire smoking experience. For me that means as few interruptions as possible, which brings me to the topic at hand, Cigarmanship. There are a few things you should not engage in when enjoying a cigar amongst fellow enthusiasts. The one I'm going to speak on today is "using others tools".
When I'm with others and we're enjoying the experience, there's nothing that can kill the mood and subsequently the smoking experience is when one asks to "borrow" my lighter or cutter. No, I'm not selfish, but I spend quite a bit of money on my passion and I primarily spend that money on my behalf, not yours. You should really refrain from asking to use people's tools. If you are really about getting into this game, invest in your own tools. Cutters can be purchased for as little as $1.00 and a decent box of matches can be procured for FREE! Those are the basic tools you need (as well as a cigar) to take part in this experience. It frustrates the hell out me when I'm sitting back, figuring out the complexity of my cigar, admiring the burn and smoke bellowing from my cigar when I hear the dreaded words "can I borrow.......".
Now I understand that there may be a time when you just literally forgot your tools (why, I don't know) but I understand, but when you ask and then the next person asks, now I feel like your damn Butler. Personally I keep a lighter (filled) and a cutter in my vehicles, so if should happen to leave the house without them, I have back up. I never know when I'm going to stop at a shop, a friends house (that gives you permission to smoke), etc., so typically I carry one of my traveldors with cigars loaded and my tools. That way, I'm sure I'll be ready to get in the "game". Would you sit on the bench in a football game with not equipment on waiting to get in the game? Absolutely not, so the same applies with cigars. I'm not here to support your pleasures, even if your a beautiful, long-legged woman. I have to pay for my butane to keep my source of "lightation" ready and if you continually are using it, all of a sudden its empty and my experience gets a bit more difficult to enjoy. And my cutter is precious to me, that's why I purchased it. Some like to lick their cigars before cutting, and I'm not in the mood to share your saliva, if I allow you to use my cutter.
So practice some Cigarmanship, and don't ASK! Get your own, it will make all involved that much happier and we can all enjoy our time with our favorite cigars, and I mean MY favorite cigars not one of mine that you asked for, but that's another blog for another time. Cigarmanship, is an act of respect and should be treated that way. Start practicing and you'll find that you might just be invited to a whole lot more cigar events, and gatherings. Until next time "CLP" (clip, light and puff)
Long ashes (___G___________]]]]]~~~
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